Latching device



June 27, 1939. c. R. WILLIAMS 2,164,027

LATCHING DEVICE Filed June 4, 1937 Patented June 27, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Atlantic Service Company,

Inc., Brooklyn,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 4, 1937, Serial No. 146,467

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a clasp for a hinged member and has for an object to lock the hinge in a predetermined position; another object of the invention is to provide a latch that is comparatively inexpensive to make and in which the engaging members of the latch are located parallel to the hinge. Another object of the invention is to latch a pair of abutting frame members in a straight position and another object is to provide a combination hinge and latch for a pair of abutting members which is flush with the members and concealed, other objects of the invention will be more particularly understood from the following specification and the accompanying drawing, in which;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a hone towhich this invention has been applied;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the hone in Fig. 1 with the abutting members released from the latch;

Fig, 3 is an enlarged plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a combination hinge and latching arrangement in section, applied to the abutting frame members of a screen;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of a modified form of the construction in Fig. 3, and

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 6.

In the application in Fig. 1 the hone comprises the pair of frame members HI and I2 placed in abutting relation at 13 and upon which a fabric I4 is secured by a suitable adhesive and which fabric forms the hinge between the members H and 12 at [3 and forms a cushion for the abrasive sheet I5 which is secured to the frame members by suitable eyelets at l6 and II. The underside 40 of the device is provided with vacuum cups l8 and I9 whereby it may be attached to a smooth surface for convenience in use. The frame or base members II and I2 are maintained in a straight or horizontal position by the latch member 2| and the upstanding latch member 22 held in alignment by the key or looking bar 23, hereinafter to be described.

In Fig. 3 it will be noted that the latching member 2| is secured to frame II and the latching member 24 is secured to frame I2 and is located in a notch 24a centered in member 2|. The member 2| has its ends 25 and 26 turned upwardly to form upstanding members and the member 24 has its end 22 correspondingly turned upwards. The relation of member 22 to the members 25 and 2G isoffset as indicated in the drawing to provide for the straight locking bar 23 which is pivoted at 2'! to the upstanding member 25.

From this construction it will be noted that the locking bar or key 23 holds the upstanding member 22 rigidly in alignment with 25 and 26 when the abutting members i l and [2 are in the straight position. It will be observed that the locking effect does not take place at a point, instead the key member 23 is parallel to the hinge opening and provides a locking engagement throughout its length which, in practice, corresponds with the length of the parallel hinge and makes a rigid connection that is capable of withstanding greater pressure than could be obtained from a single point of contact.

The mechanism is unlatched by moving the key 23 on its pivot 21 until it disengages 22, then the joint can be opened as indicated in Fig. 2. It will be noted in Fig. 2 that the projecting end of 24 engages the notch 24a after the joint has been opened for a considerable distance, this helps to assure the realignment of the latching parts when the latch is to be reestablished. When applied to a hone the breaking of the joint releases the tension on the abrasive band I5 as indicated at l5a, Fig. 2, thus enabling this band to be replaced.

In the construction described it will be observed that the latching mechanism is of a simple character comprising two bent plates with a straight bar interposed between these plates for locking purposes, hence the construction admits of manufacture at a low cost.

In the construction in Figs. 4 and 5, the frame members 3| and 32, for the screens 33, abut at their edges and are secured by the hinge which operates as an ordinary hinge and is provided with a wing 36 secured by the screw 31 to'the frame 3! and the wing 38 secured by the screw 39 to the frame 32. Ilhe outer edge of the wings 36 and 38 are notched and are provided with offset fingers, the fingers of one wing entering the notch of the opposite wing and a locking bar is provided to engage the opposite sides of these fingers and lock the joint in the straight position. This is shown in detail in the drawing in which the wing 36 has the offset finger 41 and the wing 38 has the offset finger 44, Fig. 4, with the locking bar located between these fingers. From Fig. 5 it will be noted that the offset fingers are located in a groove 42 and they are flush with the outside of the frame members. On one side the fingers 43, 44 and 45 are opposed by fingers 46 and 41, the finger 46 passing through the notch 46a and the finger 44 passing through the notch 44a. The locking key 40 is pivoted at 4| to 45 and can readily be pulled outwards to release the latch.

In Figs. 6 and '7 the construction is modified from Fig. 3 to use a sliding key bar instead of the pivoted bar 23. For this purpose the bar 52 is provided with a notch at 5! and is held in place by the turned over lugs 25a and 26a on the upstanding members corresponding to 25 and 26 in Fig. 3, the bar is also limited in its sliding movement by turning over its ends as indicated at 53. In the position shown in Fig. 6 the latch is engaged and the upstanding member 22 is held in alignment with 25a and 26a. When the locking bar 52 is moved to the right to bring the notch 5| into register with the member 22, the latch is released and the joint can be opened.

The invention admits of a variety of applications in addition to those shown which have been selected to show the construction and operation of the device.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A latch for a pair of frames hinged at their abutting edges so that they may be moved on the hinge from a straight position to fold towards each other, comprising an upstanding member on one frame having a notch, and an upstanding member on the other frame moving within said notch in overlapping relation when the frames are in the straight position, said upstanding members being parallel with the abutting edges of the frames and a key member pivotally secured to one of said members and moving on its pivot to engage said upstanding members when in the straight position.

2. A latch for a pair of frames hinged at their abutting edges so that they may be moved on the hinge from a straight position to fold towards each other, comprising an upstanding member on one frame having a notch, and an upstanding member on the other frame moving within said notch in overlapping relation when the frames are in the straight position, said upstanding members being parallel with the abutting edges of the frames, and a sliding key member mounted on one of said upstanding members engaging said members when in the straight position and having a notch to release the latch engagement when in the unlatched position.

3. A latch for a pair of frames hinged at their abutting edges so that they may move on the hinge from a straight position to fold towards each other, comprising a notched plate on one frame having its end bent perpendicular to the frame and parallel to the abutting edges, a second plate on the other frame entering the notch of the first plate and having its end bent perpendicular to the frame, said bent ends being located in overlapping relation when the frames are in the straight position and a locking bar engaging said bent ends to hold the frames in the straight I position CLARENCE R. WILLIAMS. 

